[WCUSP] ME News Roundup

Mon Oct 1 16:30:11 CDT 2007

I think the below article offers good analysis of events last week here in
the US and in Iran, Palestine, and Israel.

best,
C.J.

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Jewish Voice for Peace <info at jewishvoiceforpeace.org>
Date: Sep 29, 2007 11:01 PM
Subject: JVP News Roundup September 30
To: socialupheaval at gmail.com

<http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?key=427030318&url_num=1&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.jewishvoiceforpeace.org%2Fcontent.jsp%3Fcontent_KEY%3D219%26amp%3Bt%3Dabout.dwt>
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More articles of interest

Dear Cynthia:

*Here is your weekly JVP news roundup for September 30, 2007. Click on the
highlighted links for news articles that expand on the summary here.*

*If you find these newsletters valuable, please send them on to friends and
colleagues. And please support our work. JVP subsists on individual
donations from our supporters, like you. To donate now, click
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*
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*JVP News Roundup, September 30, 2007*

Click here for printer-friendly version
<http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?key=427030318&url_num=5&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.jewishvoiceforpeace.org%2Fpublish%2Fprinter_907.shtml>

The United States' military action in Iraq as well as the simmering conflict
between Israel and Syria, the worsening situation with the Palestinians and
on top of last summer's war between Israel and Hezbollah have greatly
increased the instability in the never-stable Middle East. The prospect of
an attack on Iran would greatly magnify the already considerable instability
even by Mideast standards. While a strike on Iran is still much less likely
than one might believe from the headlines, those pressing for such an attack
have increased their efforts greatly, so the possibility is greater than
ever.

When Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad came to Columbia University
<http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?key=427030318&url_num=6&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.huffingtonpost.com%2Fjoe-cutbirth%2Fahmadinejads-columbia-mo_b_65760.html>and
the United Nations in New York this week, the response was powerful. Many
protests and calls for Ahmadinejad to be barred from entering the country
were heard. Columbia president Lee Bollinger embarrassed both the university
and the country with his scathing attack on Ahmadinejad when he was supposed
to be introducing him to the audience. No matter how deep the enmity is for
a visiting foreign dignitary, this was inappropriate behavior. Either don't
invite him or maintain an air of
civility<http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?key=427030318&url_num=7&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.latimes.com%2Fentertainment%2Fla-et-rutten29sep29%2C0%2C1222354.story%3Fcoll%3Dla-headlines-calendar>.
Bollinger need not have praised Ahmadinejad, but his behavior was
unnecessary and, in the end, i t didn't stop petitions from circulating that
he be fired<http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?key=427030318&url_num=8&url=http%3A%2F%2Fap.google.com%2Farticle%2FALeqM5hzPy4f8ylWBzOYQYHl8Ha3NtGBrA>for
having allowed Ahmadinejad to speak at Columbia anyway.

On September 21, Iran challenged the international community to devote the
same scrutiny to Israel's nuclear
arsenal<http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?key=427030318&url_num=9&url=http%3A%2F%2Fap.google.com%2Farticle%2FALeqM5hK1JIDDDjVr9FrZ4X3Gvk5C8hc_w>,
the worst-kept secret in the world, as it does to Iran's nuclear efforts.
One actually wonders what took Iran so long to issue this challenge. Israeli
officials responded by not responding, simply repeating that Iran just hates
Israel and should not be heeded, but not denying its own nuclear ability nor
admitting that it escapes standard
scrutiny<http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?key=427030318&url_num=10&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.haaretz.com%2Fhasen%2Fspages%2F906132.html>.

In the end, the hysteria over Ahmadinejad is misplaced; whatever he is or is
not (and it is obvious that the man is a loose cannon, a Holocaust denier,
and dogmatic but not very learned religious fundamentalist), he does not
control Iran's military or its foreign policy. That is left to Supreme
Leader, Ayatollah Ali
Khameini<http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?key=427030318&url_num=11&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.haaretz.com%2Fhasen%2Fspages%2F906914.html%2520>.
Moreover, Iran has never attacked another country directly, and its posture
against Israel, while certainly hostile, has remained within the confines of
defensive statements<http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?key=427030318&url_num=12&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nytimes.com%2F2007%2F09%2F20%2Fworld%2Fmiddleeast%2F20iran.html%3F_r%3D2%26amp%3Bref%3Dworld%26amp%3Boref%3Dslogin%26amp%3Boref%3Dslogin>.
The oft-repeated threat to "wipe Israel off the map" was a
mistranslation<http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?key=427030318&url_num=13&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.juancole.com%2F2006%2F05%2Fhitchens-hacker-and-hitchens.html>and,
while the statement (which was actually Ahmadinejad quoting the
Ayatollah Khomeini) was certainly belligerent, it was not a threat. In any
case, the Iranian president does not have the power to back any of this up
and both history and current actions indicate that Iran's political elite,
which disapproves of Ahmadinejad in any case, has not changed its
historically defensive
orientation<http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?key=427030318&url_num=14&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nytimes.com%2F2007%2F09%2F24%2Fworld%2Fmiddleeast%2F24iran.html%3F_r%3D1%26amp%3Bref%3Dworld%26amp%3Boref%3Dslogin>.

For a more detailed exposition of the tensions with Iran, click
here<http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?key=427030318&url_num=15&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.mideastanalysis.org%2F>.

Meanwhile, the Israeli government is tightening the squeeze on the Gaza
Strip. By declaring Gaza a "hostile
entity,"<http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?key=427030318&url_num=16&url=http%3A%2F%2Fafp.google.com%2Farticle%2FALeqM5hxuqac9hsV3vZkpDSJlcAcJjjgFw%2520>Israel
now has the option to diminish or cut off completely all the services
on which Gaza depends, such as water and electricity. It is a sharp reminder
of why Jewish Voice for Peace has long insisted that a complete separation
of Israelis and Palestinians is neither possible nor practical. Israel needs
a healthy Palestinian entity if it is ever to find peace and security and
both Gaza and the West Bank will take many years to be able to survive
completely independently as both areas have relied on infrastructure from
outside those areas for many decades, since well before the occupation
began.

If you did not get a chance to act on the JVP action alert last week calling
on the US government to ensure that Israel does not cause further suffering
for innocent Palestinians in its quest to combat Hamas, you can still act on
it by clicking here<http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?key=427030318&url_num=17&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.democracyinaction.org%2Fdia%2Forganizations%2Fjvfp%2Fcampaign.jsp%3Fcampaign_KEY%3D13362%2520>.
It seems far more likely that this move will harden feelings in Gaza in
support of Hamas, and it is certain to make Hamas more
resolute<http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?key=427030318&url_num=18&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.alqassam.ps%2Fenglish%2F%3Faction%3Dshowdetail%26amp%3Bfid%3D626>.

The raid on Syria earlier this month remains shrouded in mystery, but it has
also continued to breathe and create fallout. An exceedingly foolish
resolution supporting an Israeli action whose goals and circumstances are
still completely unclear was introduced in Congress this week by Rep. Robert
Wexler
<http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?key=427030318&url_num=19&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.forward.com%2Farticles%2F11715%2F>(D-FL).
While the resolution would have no effect other than issuing a statement, it
is highly irresponsible for Congress to make such a statement based, as
Wexler himself said, only on the scant reports that have appeared in the
media, many of which are unconfirmed.

The attack on Syria can be taken as fact, at this point, but the
circumstances, and especially the target, remain unclear. The Times of
London published a
report<http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?key=427030318&url_num=20&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.timesonline.co.uk%2Ftol%2Fnews%2Fworld%2Fmiddle_east%2Farticle2512105.ece%2520>that
alleged that elite Israeli commandoes had slipped into Syria and
confirmed the presence of nuclear material, at which point Washington gave
the go-ahead for an Israeli operation. But the Times report remains
unconfirmed and the sources ambiguous.

*The November Peace Conference*

Mahmoud Abbas has reaffirmed his commitment to
attend<http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?key=427030318&url_num=21&url=http%3A%2F%2Fuk.reuters.com%2Farticle%2FmiddleeastCrisis%2FidUKN2846043020070928>a
peace conference this fall despite pressures from some quarters and
the
absence of a clear set of goals and an agenda. Abbas also believes that Saudi
Arabia will attend after
all<http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?key=427030318&url_num=22&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.iht.com%2Farticles%2Fap%2F2007%2F09%2F29%2Fafrica%2FME-GEN-Mideast-Conference-Saudi.php>.

The United States finally cleared up whether or not Syria would be invited
to the conference, saying it would be. It might have been interesting to see
how Syria would have reacted to such an offer before the Israeli attack. In
the event, Israel as well said it welcomed Syrian
participation<http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?key=427030318&url_num=23&url=https%3A%2F%2Fsecure.democracyinaction.org%2Fdia%2Fhq%2F%2520http%3A%2F%2Fwww.jpost.com%2Fservlet%2FSatellite%3Fc%3DJPArticle%26amp%3Bcid%3D1189411469235%26amp%3Bpagename%3DJPost%252FJPArticle%252FShowFull>.
But Syria stated that it believed Israel's overtures were
insincere<http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?key=427030318&url_num=24&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.voanews.com%2Fenglish%2F2007-09-19-voa28.cfm>and
that it
would not attend the
conference<http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?key=427030318&url_num=25&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.jta.org%2Fcgi-bin%2Fiowa%2Fbreaking%2F104339.html>.

The conference continues to appear to be little more than a showpiece for
the Bush Administration to seem like it is making a genuine effort at peace,
and perhaps a bone being thrown to Condoleezza Rice. The content appears
questionable, although Ehud Olmert, realizing that his earlier statements
were clearly diminishing the significance of the conference, has started to
talk a bit more about the concessions he is willing to make. His statement
regarding making "heavy concessions" shows once again the vast difference
between an Israeli generous offer and minimal Palestinian requirements.
While Olmert assures everyone he will not give up all of the West
Bank,<http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?key=427030318&url_num=26&url=https%3A%2F%2Fsecure.democracyinaction.org%2Fdia%2Fhq%2F%2520http%3A%2F%2Fwww.jpost.com%2Fservlet%2FSatellite%3Fcid%3D1189411473017%26amp%3Bpagename%3DJPost%252FJPArticle%252FShowFull>Mahmoud
Abbas continues to talk about the borders being the
same or very close to those that existed before the 1967
war<http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?key=427030318&url_num=27&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.jpost.com%2Fservlet%2FSatellite%3Fcid%3D1189411508956%26amp%3Bpagename%3DJPost%252FJPArticle%252FShowFull%2520>.
It was this same disconnect that doomed the Camp David II talks before they
ever started. Those who fail to learn from history...
*
Gaza Truce Offers? *

An unconfirmed report that Israel had explored opening dialogue with Hamas
with the goal of attaining the release of Gilad Shalit, held by Hamas since
June 2006 and achieving a
truce<http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?key=427030318&url_num=28&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ynetnews.com%2Farticles%2F0%2C7340%2CL-3451980%2C00.html%2520>were
quickly followed by more solid reports of a Hamas
appeal to Israel for a
cease-fire<http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?key=427030318&url_num=29&url=http%3A%2F%2Fca.today.reuters.com%2Fnews%2FnewsArticle.aspx%3Ftype%3DtopNews%26amp%3BstoryID%3D2007-09-21T163754Z_01_MAC974807_RTRIDST_0_NEWS-PALESTINIANS-ISRAEL-COL.XML>.
Israel rejected any such talks with
Hamas<http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?key=427030318&url_num=30&url=https%3A%2F%2Fsecure.democracyinaction.org%2Fdia%2Fhq%2F%2520http%3A%2F%2Fwww.jpost.com%2Fservlet%2FSatellite%3Fc%3DJPArticle%26amp%3Bcid%3D1189411457380%26amp%3Bpagename%3DJPost%252FJPArticle%252FShowFull>.
The approach was Hamas' response to Israel's declaration that Gaza was a
"hostile entity."

Soon after this, a group of Israeli
intellectuals<http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?key=427030318&url_num=31&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.jpost.com%2Fservlet%2FSatellite%3Fcid%3D1189411467664%26amp%3Bpagename%3DJPost%252FJPArticle%252FShowFull>led
by
A.B. Yehoshua, Amos Oz and David Grossman (whose son was killed last year in
Lebanon) sent an open letter to Ehud Olmert urging him to engage Hamas in
talks. "In the past Israel has negotiated with its worst enemies," the
petition reads. "And now, the correct course of action is to negotiate with
Hamas in an effort to foment a general cease fire that will prevent further
suffering on both sides."

*Dividing Jerusalem*

Vice Prime Minister Haim Ramon caused something of a stir when he presented
a plan for dividing
Jerusalem<http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?key=427030318&url_num=32&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.jta.org%2Fcgi-bin%2Fiowa%2Fbreaking%2F104222.html%2520>as
part of a future agreement with the Palestinians. The issue remains a
sensitive one, which only shows how difficult it will be politically to
reach an agreement on an issue which must be resolved if there is ever to be
peace. The plan Ramon presented was similar to plans that had been discussed
after the Camp David talks and lines up well with the Clinton Parameters and
the subsequent discussions at Taba in 2001.

  Hearing debates Saudi arms
deal<http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?key=427030318&url_num=33&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.jta.org%2Fcgi-bin%2Fiowa%2Fbreaking%2F104212.html>
Israel
Seeks Exemption From Atomic
Rules<http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?key=427030318&url_num=34&url=http%3A%2F%2Fap.google.com%2Farticle%2FALeqM5j_4W7czAS_qwahtut4_GkhQ3iuCQ>
<http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?key=427030318&url_num=35&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ynetnews.com%2Farticles%2F0%2C7340%2CL-3444986%2C00.html>UN
human rights chief: We failed in handling Israel-PA
conflict<http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?key=427030318&url_num=36&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.haaretz.com%2Fhasen%2Fspages%2F908055.html>
Barghouti
seen leading Palestinians<http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?key=427030318&url_num=37&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.jta.org%2Fcgi-bin%2Fiowa%2Fbreaking%2F104338.html>

*My Meeting With Ahmadinejad
*<http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?key=427030318&url_num=38&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.fpif.org%2Ffpiftxt%2F4592>
<http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?key=427030318&url_num=39&url=http%3A%2F%2Fin.reuters.com%2Farticle%2FworldNews%2FidINIndia-29316820070903>
<http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?key=427030318&url_num=40&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.haaretz.com%2Fhasen%2Fspages%2F902712.html>

The latest on the blogs

*Muzzlewatch*
 Update on Marcel Khalife, Lebanese oud
player<http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?key=427030318&url_num=41&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.muzzlewatch.com%2F%3Fp%3D256>LeMonde,
UK Guardian and New Statesman on America's Israel Lobby
problem<http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?key=427030318&url_num=42&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.muzzlewatch.com%2F%3Fp%3D249>Lebanese
oud player canceled because no Israeli on
stage<http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?key=427030318&url_num=43&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.muzzlewatch.com%2F%3Fp%3D252>Walt
and Mearsheimer critics take
aim<http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?key=427030318&url_num=44&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.muzzlewatch.com%2F%3Fp%3D254>Agreement
reached over San Francisco mural: changes to image of Israel's
wall<http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?key=427030318&url_num=45&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.muzzlewatch.com%2F%3Fp%3D251>

*The Third Way*
 A Dose of Reason On
Iran<http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?key=427030318&url_num=46&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.mideastanalysis.org%2F%3Fp%3D79>De-Mystifying
American Middle East Policy: A Response to Steven Walt and
John Mearsheimer<http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?key=427030318&url_num=47&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.mideastanalysis.org%2F%3Fp%3D78>

* New Israel Fund in UK Promotes Free
Speech<http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?key=427030318&url_num=48&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.mideastanalysis.org%2F%3Fp%3D77>
*
Industrial Disaster Draws Attention to Bedouin
Villages<http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?key=427030318&url_num=49&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.mideastanalysis.org%2F%3Fp%3D76>Getting
Past Blame: Present Realities and How To Move
Forward<http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?key=427030318&url_num=50&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.mideastanalysis.org%2F%3Fp%3D75>

<http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?key=427030318&url_num=51&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.mideastanalysis.org%2F%3Fp%3D65>

*
<http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?key=427030318&url_num=52&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.mideastanalysis.org%2F%3Fp%3D64>
*

<http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?key=427030318&url_num=53&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.mideastanalysis.org%2F%3Fp%3D63>

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-- 
-----
www.socialupheaval.com
political anaylsis from a feminist, activist perspective

-- 
------------
C.J. Minster
Program Chair, US Section
Women's International League for Peace and Freedom
railing against the military industrial complex since WWI
http://www.wilpf.org

~Social Upheaval~
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